craft

Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person - both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated, harmful "truths" we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. This workshop will explore what a...

Lots of writers have heard of the Hero's Journey, which is based on the work of Joseph Campbell. But there's also a Heroine's Journey, which is based on the story of the Sumerian goddess, Inanna, an epic that describes her descent into the underworld. The heroine’s journey is not so much about...

Have you ever heard a writer talk about starting her book in the wrong place? What on earth are they talking about? How do you know you're starting in the right place? This workshop will help you figure out how and when you should begin your story. Many writers, particularly in the beginning...

Have you ever started reading a book that you just couldn't put down? Learn the secrets that keep your reader from putting down your book. LC. will show you how to incorporate the page turning elements into your manuscript, including: Element of time, Cliffhangers, Mood and atmosphere, Use...

Have you ever read a romance and reach the traditional 60-80% complete section and think, "That's it? That's what's going to keep these main characters apart?" I think we all have. The central theme in romance is, of course, love and reaching the Happy Ever After or Happy For Now. But the...

Readers love cops, but writing believable police and sheriff’s officers can be difficult if you don’t know the procedures cops use to defend themselves and investigate crimes. In this workshop, New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight and her husband Michael Woodcock, a veteran officer...

Are you seeking a coach and mentor who listens? Doesn't squash your writing style? And who provides positive, constructive feedback to meet your goals? As a certified coach with a background in education and over a decade of working with writers, my goal is to offer you an individualized...

One reason we come to fiction is to experience the changes characters go through. And, while the external journey from maid to princess or farmer to Jedi knight may create engaging challenges, we identify with characters because they learn how to trust others or master their tempers or become...

***FREE to all registered users. This group is what you make of it - it's a safe space for writers to meet and greet. Register to access the discussion. Once registered click on the Classroom Discussions tab.*** Welcome to Find Your Crew, where the mission is to bring like-minded...

You’ve plotted your novel, mapped your main character’s “arc” of change, and set your story in motion. Now for the hardest part of all: Figuring out what all these people should say to one another—and to themselves. The writer and poet Elizabeth Bowen once said, “Dialogue is what characters do...

Do you read romance novels? Do you find a real affinity in the story lines? Do you find that cozy romances provide a wonderful escape for you, even when you life seems a bit in tatters? Do you love Hallmark movies? If you answered any of the above questions in the affirmative, you have come to...

A class designed to take the idea and opening scenes of a story and turn it into a full-fledged finished product. Using a method involving character needs and oppositions, writers will learn to churn out a list of ideas, create detailed scenes from those ideas, and figure out the best ending...

The Tarot deck is another useful tool for writers that can be used in a multitude of ways from story idea generation to character creation to evolving story events (plotting). Writers do not necessarily need to know the meanings of the cards to use them for storytelling. You do not need to...

“Outline” is a scary word for most pantsers. It sounds restrictive, it sounds tedious, it sounds boring. So, there will be no “outlines” here. Nope. None. Instead, you’re going to build yourself a “framework” for your story that’s open and flexible, with plenty of room for playing...

Have you ever read a romance novel and thought, "I really liked the book, but..." Something about the characterization of the hero or heroine left you cold? Didn't make sense? Wasn't fleshed out enough? This course will walk you through the process of creating memorable characters, including...

After eight years of developmental editing manuscript after manuscript, helping authors grow their stories and reach their potential, book editor Katie McCoach has discovered the 4 key elements that make up a compelling character narrative. Many of us have heard of Deb Dixon’s GMC (Goal...

This course will focus on the basic building blocks of every story; the scene. It’s a course that works bests for plotters, writers who outline their story, and pantsers, writers who have a mental hold on the scope of their story but perhaps not a detailed outline. Writers will learn how to set...

Be Your Own Developmental Editor will provide the tools and techniques to help you see your manuscript the way an editor or agent might see it. We’ll ask the tough questions to guide you in making your manuscript the best it can be. You’ll use these tools to assess your story’s strengths and...

Maybe you're a first-time novelist looking for practical guidance. Maybe you've already been published, but your latest effort is stuck in mid-list limbo. Whatever the case may be, author and literary agent Donald Maass can show you how to take your prose to the next level and write a breakout...

I haven't read Story Genius by Lisa Cron book yet, but it's on my to-be-read list. I have several author friends that have gushed about it. It’s every novelist’s greatest fear: pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into writing hundreds of pages only to realize that their story has no sense of...